Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has highlighted Kano’s significant strides in agricultural development at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Rwanda. The governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustainable agricultural initiatives.
Speaking at an event organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and partners on Monday, September 2, 2024, Governor Yusuf emphasized the importance of implementing climate-smart actions and fostering partnerships with the private sector to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of Kano’s agricultural sector.
Represented by the Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud, Governor Yusuf lauded the collaborative efforts of organizations, particularly the Sasakawa Africa Association, in advancing food security and promoting agricultural transformation in Kano and Nigeria at large.
According to a statement issued by Moses Nongoatse, Communication Officer of Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria, the governor specifically highlighted the pivotal role of the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), an initiative of the state government with funding support from the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Funds.
READ ALSO: Minister Of Agriculture Reveals Cause Of Tomato Price Hike
The KSADP is driving the state’s agricultural development agenda while embracing climate-smart practices to ensure sustainability.
In his remarks, Governor Yusuf stated, “The Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), funded by the Islamic Development Bank and Lives and Livelihoods Funds, has achieved massive gains.
The efforts align with our government’s agricultural development agenda and feed into our blueprint to reach smallholder farmers. “We are opening new frontiers in agriculture and sustainability, and we are engaging the private sector.”
Recognizing the vital role of the private sector in fostering agricultural growth, Governor Yusuf stressed the state’s dedication to expanding opportunities for agricultural development and engaging private enterprises in climate mitigation initiatives.
He commended the Sasakawa Africa Association for its support in crop protection and production, noting significant yield increases in rice, millet, sorghum, and maize due to the adoption of advanced technologies and climate-smart agricultural practices by Kano’s farmers.
READ ALSO: Bumper Harvests As Food Prices Drop In Kano, Kaduna, Others
The governor hailed the Sasakawa Africa Association for its efforts in strengthening the state crop value chain, describing it as a valuable partner in crop protection and production. “Efforts are paying off. In Kano State, we’ve seen yield increases in rice, millet, sorghum, and maize, and our farmers are adopting new technologies and climate-smart agricultural practices.” He explained.
Dr. Makoto Kitanaka, President of the Sasakawa Africa Association, expressed optimism in his welcome remarks and encouraged partners to use the discussions as an opportunity to review approaches and channel investments for greater impact.
Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria, also spoke, underscoring the impact of the KSADP and emphasizing the crucial role of agriculture in addressing rural poverty.
Dr. Atser highlighted the need for sustainable agricultural transformation to alleviate poverty, noting that substantial progress in the agricultural sector could have a transformative impact on poverty reduction while mitigating climate change.
Dr. Atser lamented, “Sadly, Nigerian farmers are back where Indian farmers were in the early 1970s. Low productivity is a major cause of rural poverty. We need to grow the agricultural sector to have a transformational impact on tackling poverty.
READ ALSO: NNPCL Can’t Continue Paying Petrol Price Differential Without Going Bankrupt – Presidency
Agriculture contributes 20—30 percent of the GDP of several countries in Africa. So, if we achieve agricultural transformation as a country, 50% of our problems will be gone.”
Dr. Atser reiterated the commitment of the Sasakawa Africa Association, supported by the Nippon Foundation, to assist the government’s efforts in achieving food, nutrition, and income security for smallholder farmers in Nigeria by promoting climate-smart technologies and the adoption of regenerative, market-oriented, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture practices.
The side event, themed “Food systems transformation: Emerging insights from mega initiatives,” convened key stakeholders and leaders of organizations working towards food system transformation in Africa.
Participants included representatives from the Sasakawa Africa Association headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, and its strategic partnership office in Ethiopia, as well as country offices in Uganda, Mali, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.
Other participating organizations include The Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), The Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-II), AGRA, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Islamic Development Bank, and African Development Bank.
READ ALSO: ‘We Feel Betrayed’, NLC Laments Amid Fuel Price Hike
The discussions highlighted the collaborative efforts of various organizations and underscored the potential of sustainable agricultural transformation in addressing poverty and fostering long-term food security and sustainable development.
The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) is a forum for African agriculture and food systems, which brings together stakeholders to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African food systems forward.
The Forum is a multi-sector platform comprising of 26 partners leading in African agriculture, all focused on putting farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economies.
Over 5000 delegates, including heads of governments and institutions across the globe, are attending the AFSF 2024 forum themed “Innovate, Accelerate, Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era” from September 2 to 6, 2024.